Harness-pad.



, wiimedow No. 834,201. PATENTED OCT. 23, 1906.

c. H. GRINGS. HARNESS PAD.

APPLICATION FILED 0012.1905- I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 834.201. PATENTED 00123, 1 906. I

H. GRINGS. I HARNESS PAD. urmo'uion FILED 0012,1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASPER H. GRINGS, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DUBUQUEHARNESS AND SADDLERY COMPANY, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA,v

A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

HARNESS-PAD.

To all whom it may concern: Be itknown that I, CASPER II. GRINGS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county ofDubuque and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements inHarness Pads, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to so .improve the construction ofharnesssaddles that they will be simple and inexpensive in themanufacture thereof, strong and durable, and artistic in contour andconstruction.

The following specification will specifically point out the mode ofconstruction whereby the objects are accomplished, when taken inconnection with the drawings accompanying the same and forming a parthereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one-half of a saddle and pad embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1, taken throughthe center with pad removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one-half ofthe yoke removed. Fig. 4 is a erspective view taken from the upper sidethe lower plate of the jockey. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upperside of the upper plate of the jockey. Flg. 6 is a perspective view ofthe under side of the plate shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end view ofthe jockey with the skirt therein.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the device. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of theunjointed saddle .with the jockey-plates secured. Fig. 10 is aperspective view of the yoke and-the jockey when the yoke is madeflexible.

Like numeralsof reference denote corresponding parts in each of thefigures.

- The yoke 2 is' preferably cast in one piece and having its uppersurface 4 curved and slightly increasing in width from the center to itsends 8, which are preferably slightly rounded at their upper and loweredges for the purpose presently to appear. In each end 1s a rectangularrecess 1.1, with a bar 13 disposed across the front of the recessintegral therewith and on a plane with the lower surface of the end 8,but of less diameter than the thickness of the end.

The jockey consists of two plates. The under plate 15 is provided withthe openings 16, 18, 20, and 22, and for the purpose of economy inmaterial there is left a space 24. Through the openings 16 and 22 theplate is secured to the pad 21. A hook 25 integral Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1905. Serial No. 280.956-

with the upper surface of the plate 15 projects above and partly acrossthe opening 18 and is adapted to engage the bar 13in the end of the yokeuniting the yoke to the jockey. This hook fills only part ofthe recess11 over the bar 13, for the reason presently to appear. Integral withthe crossplate 26 of the plate 15 are two upright spuds or posts 28,which are set at practically right angles to the plate 26 and onopposite sides of the opening 22 near to the sides 30 of the plate andin a plane at right angles to the sides. The base of the plate 15 is innearly a horizontal plane, but slightly curved upward at its forward endwith its sides 30 gradually increasing in width from the front to therear, as shown in Fig. 8. Across the top of the sides at their rear endextends a bar 32, which is bent into a loop 34 at its central portion.The under surface of the bar 32 is nearly in a horizontal plane, butslightly curved.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown the upper and under sides of the up er plate35 of the jockey, which is slight y oval "on its upper surface anddished on its under surface and is provided with a hole 36, arectangular tongue 38 at its forward end, and ;a projection 40 at theopposite end. The projection 40 is provided with a shoulder 42. The endof the plate 35 from which the tongue 38 projects is at right angleswith the plane of its base and of substantially the same thickness asthe end 8 of the yoke 2. v The tongue 38 is adapted to enter the recess11 over the hook 25 and with the hook substantially fills the recess,making a smooth surface along the upper surface of the yoke and jockey,and thus concealing entirely the hook and all its movements. The outerend of the plate 35 is provided with the projection 4.0 and shoulder 42,which is a trifle thicker than the thickness of the loop 34 of the bar32, and the projection 40 projects under the bar 32 through the loop 34and practically fills the loop, making a plane surface along the underside of the bar 32 and the projection 40. By this mode of constructionthe upper surface of the yoke, the upper surface of the plate 35Patented Oct. 23, 1906.

of the jockey, with the tongue 38, and the is necessary for strength anddurability of the skirt 27, which is secured in the jockey upon thespuds, that it should not be less than a given size but when the upperplate is wider and encompasses the lower plate then in order to obtainsuflicient space for the skirt 27the jockey must be so wide that itpresents a broad and inartistic appearance not desirable in this classof harness. By my construction where the upper plate is of the samewidth and rests upon and secured to the lower plate there is obtainedthe same full space for the skirt and also a much nar rower, neater, andmore artistic appearance of the jockey. Further, since the spuds 28 areset in either side of the opening 22, through which a screw secures therear end of the jockey to the pad and the spuds both in a plane at rightangles to the sides of the plate 15, the fitter is enabled to engage theskirt on the spuds at a point where the leather is firm and not trimmedoil, and hence they will be more secure and less danger of their beingtorn off, and, further, since the spuds are close by the opening 22 theskirt will prevent the screw in the hole 22 from becoming loose, andalso by setting the spuds crosswise of the plate 15 there will be adouble grip on the skirt and will hold it much more secure than if thespuds were set one in the rear of the other. 1

- The manner in which the various parts are assembled and brought intooperative position is substantially as follows: The plate 15 is rigidlyscrewed onto the pad by screws through the holes 16 and 22, and theplate 15 is united to the yoke 2 by engaging the hook 25 with the bar13, and the skirt 27 being provided with holes near its outer ends issecured upon the spuds 28 through these holes therein, Then the plate 35is placed upon the plate 15 and its projection 40 inserted in the loop34 of the bar 32, and since it fills the loop it will rest on the skirt27 and the top of the spuds 28, which project through the skirt and inthis manner firmly hold the skirt upon the securing-screw and in the endof the jockey. The tongue 38 will enter the recess 11 over the hook 25,entirely concealing the hook, and the end of the plate 35 will comeclosely to the end of the hook and prevent the hook from beingdisengaged from the bar 13, and the recess 11 will be filled flush withthe upper surface of the yoke by the tongue 38 on the hook. The terretis then passed through the holes 36 and 20 and is screwed into theterret-nut, bringing the plates 35 and 15 rigidly together.

To provide against the displacement of the upper plate of the jockeywhen the terret becomes loosened, there is provided in the inner end ofthe plate 35 an opening 37 and on the bar 13 a lug 39, which engageswith the opening 37 and prevents the removal of the plate 35 at thatend, and the projection 40, with the shoulder 42 engaging the loop 34,prevents the removal of the plate at the outer end. It may, however, beremoved by lifting or tilting the yoke, which withdraws the lug 39 fromthe opening 37 and leaves the plate free at that end. It will be noticedthat although the yoke and jockey are coupled together and present theappearance of one single piece where they are united together by meansof the hook there will be a yielding at that place of the union of thetwo; but since the end of the plate 35 and the end 8 of the jockey comein contact with each other and the tongue also contacts with the yokethey will admit only sulficient yielding to accommodate the saddle tohorses having different-shaped backs. Fig. 9 shows this jockey appliedto a saddle Without a joint. The plate 35 has no tongue 38, but isprovided with the terret-openings 36 and the screw-hole 55, throughwhich it is secured to the pad and to the under late. It also has thesame projection 40 an shoulder 42. The under plate 15 is provided at itsouter end with a bar 32, a loop 34, and the spuds 28 set in the sameposition; but the upper or inner end of the plate extends up andconstitutes not only the under plate of the jockey, but also the yoke ofthe saddle. Fig. 10 shows this plate 35 secured to the end plate and theend of a flexible piece 56 secured between the upper and lower plates bythe screw passing through the hole 55, uniting the upper and lowerplates together. The strap 56 is usually made of leather and forms theyoke of the saddle. This will permit a yielding of the yoke between theends of the plates 15 and 35 and the center of the saddle. In otherrespects both of those plates are the same and operate the same as inFig. 9.

In order that the skirt may be repaired or a new skirt substituted, theopening 55 on the upper plate is oblong or provided with the slot 58. Bythis mode of construction when a new skirt is to be substituted theoperator has but to unloosen the screw in the hole 55 and take out theterret. Then he can shove the plate 35 upward until the projection 40becomes disengaged from the loop 34, when it can be moved around toeither side and the skirt placed upon the spuds, then the plate 35brought over the skirt and inserted in the loop 34 and the screw in thehole 55 tightened.

It will be observed that numerous advantages will result from this modeof construcand yoke; but such yielding, will be conof the yoke.

trolled by the end of the plate 35 and the end Another advantage, sincethe spuds are located crosswise of the plate, there will be a doublegrip on the skirt, and

the skirt in that position, with the plate above it, will prevent thesecuring-screw from becoming loosened by the engagement of theprojection 40 with the loop 34, and also there will be a space in theend of the jockey for the full size of the skirt, and still the jockeywill not be so wide as to be inar-' tistic or clumsy. A still furtheradvantage, the jockey will remain in position even if the terret doesbecome loosened or broken, and a new skirt can be substituted withoutdisengaging all of the parts of the jockey, and

the whole saddle may be manufactured at a small expense without specialmachinery with the ordinary laborer.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, a yokeprovided with a recess in its end, a bar in the recess, a lowerjockey-plate, a hook on said plate adapted to engage said bar and unitethe jockey to the yoke, an upper jockey-plate adapted to rest upon thelower plate, and a tongue upon the upper plate adapted to engage therecess in the yoke and cover said hook and with the hook fill the recesswhereby there is presented an even surface of the entire yoke and jockeyand the appearance of a continuous and unbroken saddle throughout.

2. In a device of the character described, a yoke provided with a recesstherein, a bar in said recess connected with the yoke, a lowerjockey-plate, a hook on the lower plate adapted to engage the bar in theyoke, a bar across the outer end of the plate, a loop in said bar, anupper jockey-plate provided with a tongue adapted to engage the recessin the yoke and cover the hook,-and a projection on the end of the upperplate adapted to engage said loop.

3. In a device of the character described, a jockey consisting of alower plate provided with openings through which it is secured to thepad, a bar across the platenear. its outer end and provided with a loop,a spud set on opposite sides of one of the openings, in combination withan upper plate of substantially the same width as the lower plate andsecured u on the lower plate, and a projection on t e upper plateadapted to engage the loop on the bar and hold the skirt on the spudsover an opening in the lower plate.

, 4. In a device of thecharacter described, a jockey consisting of alower plate provided with a bar across its outer end, aloop in said bar,spuds in said plate, a skirt provided with openings adapted to beengaged by the spuds in the plate, in combination with an upper plateprovided with a projection adapted to engage said loop and hold theplate upon the spuds over the skirt.

5. In a device of the character described, a yoke provided with a recesstherein, a bar attached to the yoke and disposed across the recess, alug on said bar, a lower jockey-plate, a hook on said plate adapted toengage the bar in the yoke and an upper jockey-plate provided with arecess therein adapted to be engaged by the lug on the bar of the yoke.

6. In a device of the character described, a yoke provided with a recesstherein, a bar attached to the yoke and disposed across the recess, alug on said bar,'a-lower j ockey-plate, a hook on the plate adapted toengage the bar in the yoke, an upper jockey plate pro vided with arecess therein adapted to be engaged by the lug on the bar of the yoke,and a tongue at one end of the upper plate adapted to engage the recessin the yoke over the bar and with the hook fill the recess, whereby thehook is concealed and the recess in the bar is filled flush with theupper surface of the yoke and jockey.

7. In a device of the character described, a yoke provided with a recesstherein, a bar disposed across the recess, a lug on said bar,

alower jockey-plate, a hook on said plate adapted to engage the bar inthe yoke, an upper jockey-plate provided with a'recess in its endadapted to be en aged by the lug on the bar of the yoke, a s irt, andmeans for holding the outer end of the upper plate in engagement withthe lower plate with the skirt between.

8. In a device of the character described, a

yoke provided with a recess, a bar across the recess attached to theyoke, a lug on the bar, a lower plate, a hook on the lower plate adaptedto engage the bar in the yoke, a bar across the outer end of the lowerplate, spuds on the lower plate, a skirt secured on the spuds, in comination with an upper plate provided with a recess in its end adapted toe engaged by the lug on the bar of the yoke,

and a projectionon the outer end of the upper plate adapted to engagethe bar on the lower late over the skirt and hold the skirt upon t e suds.

9. In a evice of the character described, a yoke provided with a recessin its end, a bar injsaid recess, a jockey consisting of a lower. plateprovided with openings throu h which the plate is secured to the pad, ahoo on said lower plate adapted to engage said bar in the yoke, a baracross the upper or rear end of &

the lower plate and provided with a loop, a spud upon each side of oneof the openings, a s irt provided with holes adapted to be en- 1 gagedby the spuds, an upper jockey-plate in engagement with the spuds.

' 10. In a device of the character described, a lower plate providedwith openings through which it is secured to the pad, a spud set uponthe opposite sides of one of the openings in said plate, a barconnecting the upper edges of the plate near the outer end and providedwith a loop, an upper plate resting upon and secured to the lower plate,a projection on the upper plateadapted to engage the loo and a shoulderon the upper plate adapte to engage the bar over the loop and hold theplate from longitudinal movement outward.

11. In a device of the character described,

a yoke provided with a recess therein, a bar in the recess integral withthe yoke a jockey consisting of two plates the lower of which isprovided with a hook adapted to engage the ar in the yoke and hinge theockey to the yoke, an upper plate of substantially the same width andresting upon the lower plate and of substantially the same thickness atits upper-end as the end of the yoke adapted .to be set in close contactwith the end of the hook to hold the hook in contact with the bar, and atongue on the upper end of the plate adapted to enter said recess in theyoke over the hook and with the hook fill the recess in the yoke wherebythe yoke and the jockey shall present the appearance of an unbroken uper surface and the jockey a single plate.

11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

CASPER H. GRINGS. Witnesses M. M. CADY, B. KENNEDY.

